Vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner consisting of a body separable into two sections, wherein the airpaths of the sections are serially joined by a flexible hose to be housed in a tubular chamber formed in the sections.

Inventors Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Priority Konomu Shirayanagi Yokohama-std;

Yoshitoma lljima, Matsudo-shi; Kosaku Urano, Tokyo; Sadao Kobayashi, Tokyo; Tsunco Kozuki, Machida-shi; Yutaka Tanigawa, Tokyo; Aldo Watanabe, Kodaira-shi; Terunobu Takahashi, Tokyo; Tsuneo Sakagami, Kamakura-shi, all of, Japan Oct. 1, 1968 Aug. 17, 1971 Tokyo Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Tokyo, Japan Apr. 17, 1968, Apr. 17, 1968, May 28, 1968, May 28, 1968, June 26, 1968, June 26, 1968, July 23, 1968, July 23, 1968, July 23, 1968 Japan 43/151,307, 43/131,308, 43/ 14,079, 43/44,080, 43/511,665, 43/53,666, iii/62,603,

[51} Int. Cl A4715/24 Field of Search 15/315, 326, 323, 327, 344, 350

[56] References Cited V UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,346,339 4/1944 Vose 15/350 X 2,507,043 5/1950 Osborn 15/327 E UX 2,661,074 12/1953 Gerber 15/323 X 2,867,833 H1959 Duff 15/323 3,226,758 1/1966 Brown et al... 15/327 3,261,107 7/1966 Ponczek et a1.. 15/315 X 3,334,370 8/1967 Boyd 15/326 X 3,353,996 11/1967 Hamrick 15/315 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,434,269 2/1966 France 15/350 Primary ExaminerWalter A. Schell Assistant Examiner-C. K. Moore Atlorney-George B. Oujevolk ABSTRACT: A vacuum cleaner consisting of a body separable into two sections, wherein the airpaths of the sections are 43/62,604, and 43/62,605

VACUUM CLEANER 19 Claims, 21 Drawing Figs.

u.s.c| 15/326, 15/323, 15/327, 15/344 7372 5 5m 56b 1.? M 81 FF Kl 4 F 7b i 1 1, 64' j g 68 20b 9 5 0 20 a a, c 10 serially joined by a flexible hose to be housed in a tubular chamber formed in the sections.

PATENTEDAUBIYIBYI SHEET 1 0F 7 3599273 PEG. 4

FIG. 3

. PATENIEB AUG] 7197:

SHEET 2 BF 7 PATENTEU AUG 1 7 an SHEET 3 OF 7 PATENIED AUG! 7191:

SHEET u [If 7 PATENTEU AUG 1 7 ml sum 5 UF 7 FIG. 16

VACUUM CLEANER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a vacuum cleaner which is separable, if required, into two sections so as to permit a cleaning operation to be carried out as freely asdesired by hanging one of the sections on the shoulder and holding the other by hand.

In an aspect of the invention, the first section of the vacuum cleaner consists of a first casing having an airpath provided with an exhaust port and an electrically driven fan disposed in the airpath, and a second section comprises a second easing having an airpath provided with an intake port and a dust collector positioned in the airpath. These two airpaths serially communicate with each other by a flexible hose, and the first and second casings are detachably joined by a suitable means. This type of vacuum cleaner has the advantage that a sucking member can be directly connected to the intake port without using a flexible hose as a connector and that dust can be received in the dust collector before reaching the flexible hose joining both casings. Accordingly. the present invention eliminates the undesirable possibility of a flexible hose being obstructed with collected dust as has often been experienced with a cleaner wherein the flexible hose is positioned ahead of the dust collector.

Further as mentioned above, the present vacuum cleaner may be used if required, under the condition where both casings are joined by a suitable means. Thus the form in which the cleaner is used is entirely left to the user's choice.

In another aspect of the invention, the flexible hose is made progressively retractable into a chamber formed in either one or both of the casings as one of the casings is pushed toward the other. This saves the trouble of .housing a flexible hose by hand. Moreover, when joined, both casings constitute a cylindrical cleanerjbody complete by itself which has a smart appearance and attractive visual appeal.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments taken with the appended drawings.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view obtained by cutting the cleaner of FIG. I on a central line in a lengthwise direction;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, with a part broken away, of the cleaner body where the first and second casings are joined together;

FIG. 6 is a side view, with a part broken away, of another embodiment of the cleaner body where both casings are joined by different means from those shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view, with a part broken away, ofa different vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a means for plugging the sucking inlet of the flexible hose as taken out of the casing;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal side view of the plugging means of FIG. 8 where it is assembled in the chamber of the second cas- 4 ing;

FIG. 10 is a side view, with a part broken away, of the flexible hose where it is housed in the chamber;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal side view of the flexible hose of FIG. 10, where it is in an' operating condition;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a user engaged in cleaning with the cleaner of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are side views, with a part broken away, of other embodiments than that of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are side views of different embodiments from that of FIG. 2, showing, with a part broken away, only the portions of the cleaner at and near the ends of the flexible hose;

FIG. 17 is a side view, with a part broken away, of another embodiment wherein the exhaust port is disposed at a different position from that of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 18 and 19 are schematic longitudinal side views of other embodiments where the window portion formed in the handle section of the first casing is of different arrangement from that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 20 is a side view of another embodiment where the band or shoulder belt is fitted in a different manner from that of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 21 is a front elevation of another embodiment where the metal part for the lead wiring is fitted in a different manner from that of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The general numeral 1 represents a narrow cylindrical body. The body 1 is separable in two parts at the central part in a lengthwise direction, namely, it is composed of a first casing 2 positioned at the rear part of the body and a second casing 3 disposed at the front part thereof. The first casing consists of a substantially cylindrical casing body 4a further splittable into two sections and a bridge-shaped handle portion 4b integrally formed thereon. The casing body 4a is formed of a pair of half-split plates 4-4 assembled from the right and left sides by screws (not shown) so as to be joined at the central part of the casing in a lengthwise direction and a flat top plate 5 mounted on the half-split plates 4-4 in a manner to bridge them. In the first casing is formed a hollow airpath 6. The airpath 6 is mainly composed of a chamber 60 defined between a partition wall 8 dividing the cylindrical body into the front and rear compartments in the middle and the rear end face 9 of the cylindrical body. This chamber 6a communicates with another chamber 6b for housing the laterdescribed flexible hose. The chamber 6b has an opening 7 positioned at the front upper part of the first casing, namely, at the front end of the handle portion 4b, and also communicates with the underlying casing body at the rear part. In the center of the rear end face a of the cylindrical body is formed a protrusion 9a. Under the protrusion are perforated exhaust ports communicating with the chamber 611. In the chamber 60 is positioned an electrically driven fan 1 1, whose fitting will be later described.

The second casing 3 also assumes a substantially cylindrical form extending in a lengthwise direction of the cleaner body 1. The rear part of the second casing 3 is constructed with a slightly larger diameter than the front part. The second casing 3 is composed of a cylindrical casing body 14 having an intake port 12 formed at the front and an opening 13 provided at the rear upper part, a handle portion 14a integrally formed with the top surface of the cylindrical casing body 14 in a manner to bridge it and a top plate 15 so formed as to cover the handle portion 14a and define a hollow chamber 15a in the interior of the cylindrical casing body 14. In an airpath 16 formed between the intake port 12 and the opening 13 is placed a dust collector which assumes a closed cylindrical form opening to the side of the intake part I2 or a bag shape. This dust collector 17 consists of an airpath 16a with a larger diameter and another upwardly extending airpath 16b connected to the rear part of the airpath 16a and gradually tapering toward the opening 13. To the opening 13 constituting the outlet of the airpath 16b is so fitted a joining tube 18 as to project from the rear end face of the second casing 3. To the joining tube 18 is connected airtight the front end of the flexible hose 19. The

hose 19 enters the chamber 6b used for its housing at the front opening 7 of the first casing 2, and is further connected to a cover or shield of the electrically driven fan llinstalled in the chamber 6a. The fan cover 20 is formed of a cylindrical section 20a opening at one end for covering the fan 11 of the electrically driven fan 1 1 and a projecting joining tube 20b integrally formed with the bottom of the cylindrical section 20a. The rear end of the flexible hose l9 registers with the outer periphery of the projecting joining tube 20b and is fitted thereto airtight by means of a rest 21. Thus the airpath 16 of the second casing 3 communicates through the flexible hose 19 with the airpath 6 of the first casing 2.

There will now be described the flexible hose 19 by reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. The hose consists of a cylindrical body 22 made of plastic film, for example, polyvinyl chloride film, in the texture of which are incorporated knottings of fibrous material 23. Around the cylindrical body 22 is wound spiral wiring 24 exerting a spring force. The wiring and cylindrical body are fitted to each other by welding or adhesion. Accordingly, at normal times, the wall of the hose presents a helical formation consisting of a larger diameter section 22a bonded to the wiring 24 and a smaller diameter section 22b between the wire coilings. However, when the hose 19 is compressed in an axial direction or the interior thereof is subjected to negative pressure, the entire length of the hose 19 is contracted to the extent that the pitch between the individual coilings is reduced substantially to zero as shown in FIG. 10.

According to this embodiment, where the first and second casings 2 and 3 are connected, the hose 19 is housed in the chamber 6b of the first casing 2 under the compressed condition.

There is also provided a means for connecting the first and second casings 2 and 3 so as to form a single cleaner body extending long in its axial direction. In this embodiment, the connecting means consists of an engaging member 26 and a clamp 27 whereby both casings are securely joined. As shown in FIG. 5 on the rear end face 28 of the second casing 3 is formed a hilly protrusion 29 having a stepped portion formed on the periphery, and at the bottom end of the protrusion is disposed a hook portion 30. At the rear upper end of the second casing 3 is formed a protrusion integrally with the cylindrical body 14 so as to fit in with'the clamp 27.

On the other hand, at the front face 32 of the first casing 2 is formed a recess 33 to receive the protrusion 29 of the second casing 3, and at the bottom end of the recess 33 is formed a hook portion 34, whose end is turned upward. At the front end of the top plate 5 on the first casing 2 is formed integrally with said top plate 5 a protruding walled enclosure 35 which is open at the top and front. In this walled enclosure is positioned a lever 36 having a hook portion 360 formed at the outer end in a manner to rotate around a pin 35a penetrating the walls of the enclosure 35. Between the rear underside of the lever 36 and the bottom of the walled enclosure 35 is inserted a compression spring 37. Accordingly, to connect the first and second casings 2 and 3, the hook portion of the second casing 3 is first made to fit in with the hook portion 34 of the first casing 2. At this time the joining tube 18 of the second casing 3 is inserted into the opening 7 of the first casing 2. Using the joining tube 18 as a guide, the second casing 3 is made slightly to rotate toward the first casing 2 with the bottom of said second casing 3 as a fulcrum so as to cause the protrusion 29 to touch the recess 33 of the first casing 2. Thus the protrusion 29 and recess 33 are engaged with each other in a direction parallel with the end face of the casings. Finally, the protrusion 31 of the second casing 3 is pushed to the underside of the hook 361: of the clamping lever 36 of the first casing 2 against the force of the spring 37, thereby to connect the first and second casings 2 and 3. 1n the foregoing embodiment the clamping lever 36 is disposed in the first casing 2.

However, it is permissible to place it conversely on the side of the second casing 3.

Where both casings 2 and 3 are connected as described above, it is necessary to urge the hose l9 hanging between the casings into the chamber 6a under the compressed condition. However, this operation is automatically carried out. Namely, when the inlet of the joining tube 18, which acts as an airsucking port of the hose 19 at the time the electrically driven fan 11 rotates, is partly obstructed by the later-described means 38 for plugging the hose opening, then the interior of the hose 19 is subjected to a negative pressure, causing the hose 19 itself to be contacted and automatically retracted into the chamber 6b of the first casing 2 as described above.

The means 38 for plugging the hose inlet is located near a chamber 15a defined in the handle portion 14a of the second casing 3. There will now be described the plugging means 38 by reference to F168. 8 and 9. Opposite to a valve seat 18a of the joining tube 18 facing the inside of the airpath 16b is positioned a substantially rectangular valve disc 39. From the upper part of the back side of the valve disc 39 is projected a valve rod 41 through a boss 40. At the furthest end of the valve rod 41 are formed in a vertical direction a pair of rectangular protrusions 41a (it will be sufficient to provide only one protrusion). The valve rod 41 is made to protrude into the chamber 15a through the wall of the airpath 16b and the rib 44 of said chamber 15a in a manner to slide in a lengthwise direction. A knob 45 for operating the valve disc 39 has a substrate 45a positioned underside, and on the rear top surface of the substrate 45a is disposed a blind plate 45b in parallel with said substrate 45a. To the rear underside of the substrate 45a are fitted a pair of downwardly protruding flanges 46 and 47. The rear protruding flange 46 has a circular aperture 48 and a pair of rectangular grooves 48a radially projecting from the periphery of the circular aperture 48 (it will be sufficient to provide only one groove). Both side edges of the substrate 45a of the knob 45 register with a pair of grooves 49 perforated on both sides of the chamber 15a of the handle 14a in a manner to slide back and forth. After inserted through the circular aperture 48 and the pair of grooves 48a of the rear protruding flange 46, the valve rod 41 of the valve disc 39 having a pair of vertically arranged rectangular protrusions 41a is made to rotate through an angle of so as to prevent the rod 41 from being loosened from the circular aperture 48, by causing the protrusions 41a of the valve rod 41 to be abutted to the surfaces of both flanges 46 and 47. Thus the front protruding flange 47 of the knob 45 acts as a stopper to obstruct the forward movement of the valve rod 41. The circumferential surface of that portion of the valve rod 41 which lies between the rear face of the rear flange 46 of the knob 45 and the rib 44 of the chamber 15a fits in with the compression spring 49, whereby the knob 45 is always kept pressed forward, namely, the valve disc 39 is allowed to be set apart from the valve seat 18a. Between the boss 40 and the wall 43 of the airpath 16b is disposed an O-ring 50 in a manner to surround the valve rod 41 thereby to prevent air from leaking out of the chamber 15a. The top portion of the knob 45 projects upward from a rectangular window 51 formed in the top plate 15. The knob 45 is so arranged as to be pushed back by the thumb when the handle portion 14a of the second casing 3 is gripped by hand. Accordingly when the knob 45 is pushed back against the force of the spring 49 while the electrically driven fan is rotating, the valve disc 39 obstructs the opening of the joining tube 18a at least partly. (in this case, it is preferred that the valve seat be not freely plugged by the valve disc 39. in this embodiment, therefore, the sizes of the valve disc 39 and valve seat are so determined as to allow for some spaces on both sides). The aforementioned plugging operation causes the air in the hose 19 to be expelled to the outside thereby to create a negative pressure therein, so that the hose 19 is contracted.

There will now be described the dust collector 17 of the second casing 3 and the construction whereby it is fixed in place. On the periphery of the front lower part of the intake port 12 of the cylindrical body 14 is formed a broad annular shoulder section 52. At the front upper part of the intake port 12 is disposed a hooked protrusion 53a so as to define a groove 53. The dust collector consists of three bags: an outermost flanged, blind, cylindrical bag 17a made of cloth having the finest meshes, an intermediate cylindrical bag 17b made of foamed synthetic resin, for example, polyurethane foam and an innermost flanged, blind, cylindrical bag 170 made of cloth having the relatively coarse meshes. These three members of the dust collector 17 are substantially housed in the airpath 16a and the flanges of the outermost and innermost collector members contact the grooves 53 and shoulder 52. To both sidewalls of the airpath 16a is fitted a horizontally projecting bar 54 to prevent the rear end part of the dust collector 17 from being so deformed due to suction as to obstruct the inlet of the airpath 16b when the electrically driven fan 1 1 rotates.

There is also provided a cap 55 covering the intake port 12 in order to press the dust collector 17 to the second casing 3. The cap 55 consists of a disc portion 56 having a recess 560 formed at the front bottom and an annular protrusion 56b positioned on the back side and a tubular portion 57 so disposed as to penetrate the central part of the dish portion 56 and to the front opening 57a to which can be fitted various types of sucking tubes (not shown). The upper part of the dish portion 56 is inserted from below into the groove 53 of the cylindrical body 14 and the lower part of the dish portion 56 is so positioned as to press the flanges of the dust collector 17 to the shoulder of the cylindrical body 14.

At the front bottom of the cylindrical body 14 is formed a recess 58. In this recess there is rotatably disposed a U-shaped wire spring 59, both ends of which are supported by the inner walls of said recess 58. To this spring 59 is fitted a clamping plate 60 provided with a hook 60a. After the dust collector 17 is pressed to the cylindrical body 14 by the cap 55, the hook 60a of the clamping plate 60 is made to fit in with the recess 56a of the cap 55 thereby to clamp the cap 55 to the cylindrical body 14. With the inner opening of the tubular portion 57 of the cap 55 is engaged a rubber valve member 61 provided with a pair of valve plates 61a so as to close the opening at ordinary times. This is intended to prevent dust collected in the dust collector 17 from falling outside of the cylindrical body 14 through the tubular portion 57.

There will now be described the construction whereby an electrically driven fan 11 is fitted to the inside of the airpath 6a of the first casing 2. The electrically driven fan 11 consists of a frame 62, a motor 63 disposed inside of the frame 62 and a fan fitted to the shaft of the motor 63 and located behind the frame 62. To the sucking side of the frame 62 is fitted a fan cover 20. On the circumferential surface of the fan cover are arranged an appropriate number of elastic members 65 made of rubber or the like. The screws 66 for fitting these elastic members 65 to the fan cover concurrently act as those for attaching the fan cover 20 to the frame 62. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer circumferential surface 650 of the elastic member 65 contacts the inner surface of the tubular portion 4a constituting the airpath 6a. The elastic member 65 is restricted in its forward motion in a circumferential direction by a rib 67a inwardly projecting from the inner wall surface of the tubular portion 4a and also in its backward movement by a rib 67a projecting from the rear end face of the elastic member 65. The front end 62a of the frame 62 of the electrically driven fan 11 is positioned inside of the annular rib 8a projecting from the partition wall 8, and fixed in place by being inserted into the hole of a ring-shaped elastic member 68 formed in the annular rib 8a.

There is also provided a cylindrical member 69 in a manner to cover the circumferential surface of the frame 62 and to be spaced from the inner wall of the tubular portion 412, and the rear end face of this cylindrical member 69 is made to contact the fan cover 20. The air supplied by the fan 64 passes through the cylindrical member 69, and around the rear side of the fan and circumferential surface thereof and is discharged from the exhaust port formed at the rear end of the airpath 6b. The cylindrical member 69 serves in a manner to extend the length of an exhaust airpath 70 connecting the exhaust port of the fan 64 and the aforementioned exhaust port 10. Thus this exhaust airpath 70 as a whole forms a long crooked duct. If the cylindrical member 69 is formed of a plurality of layers, for example, a combination of an inner pipe 69a made of polyurethane foam and an outer pipe 69b made of corrugated cardboard, it will serve as a muffler to reduce the noises generated by the rotating fan 64.

In a hollow portion 71 defined between the partition wall 8 of the airpath 6b and the front face 32 of the first casing 2 is housed an automatic takeup-type reel 74 of insulated lead wiring. Since this reel is of the same construction as one in common use, description thereof is omitted. To an axle 73 horizontally disposed in the hollow portion or container 71 is rotatably fitted a reel 74. To the inside of the reel 74 is fitted one end of a helical plate spring 72, the other end of which is attached to the axle 73. On the circumferential surface of the reel is taken up insulated lead wiring 75. The outermost end of the lead wiring 75 is delivered through an aperture 76 perforated at the central bottom of the first casing 2, and also fitted with a plug 75a. The base end of the lead wiring 75 is connected through a switch 77 to the electrically driven fan 11 The switch 77 is housed in a hollow portion formed in the raised part bridging the grip formed at the front end of the handle 4b and the casing body. A knob 77a for operating the switch 77 is positioned in the front leg portion 78 of the handle 40, which faces the same side of the delivery port 76. Adjacent to the switch operating knob 77a is arranged the knob 80 of a lever 79 for taking up the lead wiring 74 (see H6. 1). The takeup lever 79 is rotatably supported by an axle 81 projecting from the front face 32 of the first casing 2. The outer end 79a of the lever 79 contacts the inner surface of the reel 72 so as to produce a friction force. Accordingly when the lead wiring 75 is drawn out, the reel 72 is kept at the outer end 79a of the lever 79. When the knob 80 is brought down to rotate the lever 79 the end 79a of the lever 79 is removed from the inside of the reel 72, so that the reel 72 can take up the lead wiring 75 due to the righting moment of the helical plate spring 72.

Before and after the handle portion 4b of the first casing 2 respectively is perforated a fitting aperture 82. To each of these apertures is detachably fitted a metal part 83. Across these metal parts 83 is stretched a shoulder belt 84, to the center of which is attached a broad shoulder pad 85 so as to allow the first casing to be hung from the shoulder.

The bottom surface of the first and second casings 2 and 3 is made to have a smooth horizontal plane so as to allow the cleaner body 1, when assembled, to be securely set on the floor, or the like. Also under the front and rear screw holes 86 through which screws are to be inserted to assembly half-split plates 4-4 into the first casing 2 is formed a slight protrusion extending outwardly from the underside of said casing so as to form a rest for the cleaner body 1.

There will now be described the operation of this vacuum cleaner with reference to FIG. 12.

Firstly, the first casing 2 is hung from, for example, the users left shoulder with a shoulderpiece 85 of a shoulder belt 84 fixed to said first casing 2 put on the shoulder. Then a plug 75a is pushed into a plug socket by drawing a lead wire 75 from a delivery port 76. Next, a handle portion 14a of the second casing 3 separated from the first casing 2 is held by the left hand. At the end of cylindrical portion 57 of cap 55 of the second casing 2 is provided a suitable suction port member; namely, a suction port member having a brush 87 in the embodiment. When a switch 77 is turned on, a fan 64 of an electrically driven fan 11 in the first casing 2 rotates, so that air with dust is sucked in through said suction port member. By properly moving the second case 3 cleaning is carried out. When a cleaning is over, the suction port member is disengaged from the second casing 3, and by sliding backward by finger a knob 45 positioned on the handle portion 14a of the second casing 3 the entrance of the hose 19 is shut and the hose 19 is automatically housed in the first casing 2, and simultaneously the rear surface of the second casing 3 is drawn near to the front surface of the first casing 2. Next, a hooked portion 30 of the second casing 3 is fit in with a hooked portion 34 of the first casing 2 and a protrusion 31 of the second casing 3 is hand pushed into a clamp 36, whereby the second casing 3 is serially connected to the first casing 2. Further, by pushing down a knob 80 after the switch 77 is turned off and the plug 75a is detached from the plug socket the cord 75 is automatically drawn back into the first casing 2 by winding round a reel therein.

In the above embodiment, operation of the cleaner was carried out by separating the second casing 3 from the first casing 2, however, the operation may be effected in a state that both casings are being joined. In this case, the cleaner may be used by providing with a suction port member the cylindrical portion 57 of front face of the main body 1 formed in a body of the first casing 2 and the second one 3, and by hanging the body 1 from the shoulder by a belt.

The present invention should not be restricted by the aforementioned embodiments for explanation but various modifications are of course applicable. There will now be described some of modified examples of the present invention as other embodiments. The same parts are herein indicated with the same reference numerals.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, there may be used in place of a clamp a connecting means of which engaging protrusion 100 is mounted on one contacting face of either the first casing 2 or the second casing 3 and of which receiving portion 101 of the protrusion 100 on the other. In addition to this connecting means, it will also be possible, as shown in FIG. 7, to make the respective end faces 104, 105 connected with each other by disposing L-shaped handles 102, 103 respectively above the first and second casings 2 and 3. By doing so, the handle of the cleaner 1 may be formed of both handles 102 and 103. In this case, by arranging a connecting tube 18 of the second casing 3 at the underside thereof, the hose 19 is so constituted as to communicate with the fan cover 20 along the underside of the first casing.

In this embodiment, the hose 19 was housed in a chamber 6a inside the handle portion 14a of the first casing 2, but it may be taken in another portion. Namely, when a chamber 106 is disposed at the back face of the second casing 3, as illustrated in FIG. 13, so that the first half of the hose 19 may be housed in this chamber 106 and the latter half thereof in the chamber 60 of the first casing 2, then the entire length of the hose 19 can be lengthened. Further, it may also be possible as illustrated in FIG. 14 to dispose a cylindrical chamber 107a passing through a handle portion 107 of the second casing 3 and receive the hose 19 in a chamber 108 inside the handle portion 107. The rear end of the hose in this case is connected with a connecting tube 109 in the first casing 2, and this connecting tube 109 is linked with a fan cover further by way of a tube 110. At the entrance of said chamber 108 is disposed a valve seat 111 capable of opening and closing the entrance and at a front part of the handle portion 107 is disposed a push member 112 which operates the valve seat. FIG. illustrates an aperture passing through a wall 113a of a handle portion 113 adjacent an airpath 16b of the second casing 3, and a ring 115 opening and closing this aperture 114 is so disposed as to be rotated round the periphery of the handle portion 113. By so constructing, air can flow into the airpath 16b from outside when the aperture is opened, so that it is possible to weaken the suction force from the suction port member.

FIG. 16 illustrates an opening portion 116 of an airpath 6a of the first casing 2 which is formed to be trumpet shaped or conic. By doing so, it becomes easy to draw out and house the hose 19 and, at the same time, it is possible to prevent foldings of the hose.

FIG. 17 illustrates utilizing said chamber 6b as an airpath and the opening portion 116 thereof as an air-blowing port. Said exhaust port 10 of the first casing 2 is closed. Doing so, it is possible to lengthen the airpath and the noise heard outside the fan may be reduced. At the opening portion 116 is disposed an exhaust port 117, and even when the first casing 2 and the second casing 3 are c onriected with each other, exhaust can be carried out.

FIG. 18 relates to the construction of a handle portion 118 of the first casing 2. In other words, the diameter of motor 63 of the electrically driven fan 11 and that of the fan cover 20 are largely different from each other. Accordingly, if a concave portion is formed in the upper plane of the casing body facing the grip part of the handle portion 118 in a manner to come close to the circumference of the motor 63, then the first casing 2 may be miniaturized. Further, if, an opening portion 1 19 is formed utilizing the space between the fan cover 20 and a reel 72, as shown in FIG. 19, the first casing 2 can be made further compact.

FIG. 19 illustrates a fan cover 20 and an elastic member 120 in the form of a ring, instead of the elastic member 65 in the aforementioned embodiment, which is disposed in a tubular member 46 through which a plurality of apertures 121 are formed as passages for exhaust air. By doing so, the noise of the fan can be reduced. Further, by providing said apertures with an appropriate muffler for prevention of noise, the effect of decreasing noise may be heightened.

FIG. 20 illustrates a belt 84 fixed to a metal part 123 of the upper rear face of the first casing and to a metal part 124 on the upper plane thereof through an arch protrusion 122 or a ring positioned on the upper rear portion of the first casing 2. Then it is possible after use to hang the cleaner 1 with the second casing 3 thereof facing down.

FIG. 21 illustrates an embodiment wherein a metal hook 125 is disposed on the external face of the first casing 2 opposite to a cord drawout port. Accordingly,'even when the user of the cleaner 1 is left handed, the cord 75 does not stand in the way of use.

What we claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner involving a first substantially cylindrical casing (2) with a facing end, said first casing provided with an airpath (6) having an inlet port (7) in said facing end and an exhaust port, an electrically driven fan (1 1) disposed in said airpath for the forced passage of air through said airpath, a second substantially cylindrical casing (3) with a facing end, facing said first casing facing end, said second casing provided with an airpath (16) having an outlet port in said facing end and an intake port (12), a dust collector (17) disposed in the airpath of said second casing to cause air to pass through said dust collector, joining means (18, 29, 31, 33, 36) for detacha ble joining both said casings at their facing ends, so that a substantially cylindrical cleaner body is formed with the tandem arrangement of said casings, and a flexible hose (19) connecting said outlet port from said second casing (3) with the air path in said first casing (2) by way of the inlet port in said first casing, the improvement in said vacuum cleaner comprising:

a. a first grip handle (4b) integrally formed with said first casing on its upper side;

b. a second grip handle (14a) integrally formed with said second casing on its upper side in line with said first grip handle;

0. a chamber formed in the interior of said first grip handle and forming part of said airpath in said first casing and containing the flexible hose with the ends of said flexible hose connecting the said airpaths;

d. said inlet port in said first casing comprising a bore (7) formed in the facing end of said first casing and communicating straight with said chamber; and,

c. said outlet port in said second casing comprising an aperture formed in the facing end of said second casing and facing said bore such that the flexible hose communicates with the outlet port of the airpath of said second casing through said aperture; whereby the flexible hose is inserted into the first grip handle when the first and second casings are connected to each other in tandem arrangement.

2. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said second casing is provided with a chamber formed in the interior of the second grip handle for containing a part of the flexible hose, said flexible hose being introduced into said chamber I through an aperture and communicating with the outlet of the airpath of said second casing at the opposite end of said chamber to said aperture.

3. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said joining means comprises a clamping lever disposed at the side of one of said casings near the joining end, a protrusion disposed at the side of the other of said casings for engagement with said clamping lever, and convex and concave portions respectively formed in the facing ends of said casings near the opposite sides of said casings.

4. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said flexible hose has one end connected to the suction port of said electrically driven fan, and said chamber constitutes an exhaust path of said first airpath formed at the outside of said flexible hose.

5. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said dust collector is formed into a bag, and a bar member is disposed in said second casing at the rear side of said bag to prevent the rear free end of said bag from being deflected toward the downstream end of air passage.

6. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which there is provided a shoulder belt, one end of which is fixed at the upper forward portion of said first casing and the other is fixed at the lower rear portion thereof, and a ring disposed at the upper rear portion of said first casing for causing the belt to pass therethrough.

7. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which there is provided a shoulder belt, one end of which is fixed at one upper forward portion of said first casing and the other is fixed at the rear portion thereof, and a hook positioned and attached to one side of the first casing opposite to a defined position on the other side of the first casing, by means of which an insulated lead wire for supplying the electrically driven fan is taken out from and put in the first casing.

8. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said second casing is provided with a joining tube (18) projecting rearwards from the joining end of said second casing at said aperture, the intake end of said flexible hose communicating with the airpath of said second casing through said joining tube, which is inserted into the bore when the first and second casings are connected to each other.

9. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said grip handle of the first casing involves a raised part for bridging a grip part thereof and the forward end of said first casing body, and there is provided means for switching the drive of said fan positioned in said raised part.

10. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 9, in which there is provided a member for actuating said switching means positioned on one side of said first casing and a delivery port positioned on the same side of said first casing for delivering an insulated'lead wire for said electrically driven fan.

11. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said electrically driven fan has an outer side towards said facing end and'a rear side, said air being forced from said rear side past said outer side, said rear side having a suction port, and, said flexible hose has one end connected to said suction port and, an exhaust path is defined from the outer side of said fan in the first casing.

12. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 11, in which there are provided cushion members disposed at said exhaust path of said first casing for supporting said electrically driven fan.

13. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 11, in which there is provided a joining tube integrally formed with the shield of said electrically driven fan and connected to the end of said flexible hose.

14. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 11, in which there is provided a hollow cylindrical muffler extending forwards from the delivery end of said fan and defining said exhaust path.

15. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said second casing is provided with plugging means (38) for preventing or limiting the air passage through said flexible hose at its intake end to increase suction force in said flexible hose, thereby causing said flexible hose to be forcibly retracted into said chamber.

16. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 15, in which said joining means comprises a clamping lever disposed at the side of one of said casings near the joining end, a protrusion disposed at the side of the other of said casings for engagement with said clamping lever, and convex and concave portions respectively formed in the mutually facing ends of said casings near the opposite sides of said casings.

17. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said second casing is provided with plugging means (38) comprising a valve disc (39) movably disposed in the airpath of the second casing at least partly to obstruct air passage through the flexible hose, a valve seat (180) disposed at the outlet port of said second casing to receive said valve disc, and a member (41) disposed on the handle portion of said second casing for actuating said valve disc.

18. A vacuum cleaner in claim 17, in which said valve disc (39) involves a member (41) attached thereto for actuating said valve disc in an axial direction of said valve seat, and urging means (49) for urging the valve disc away from the valve seat.

19. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 18, in which said actuating member extends to the outside through a hole formed in the wall of the second casing, and said hole has its periphery surrounded by an O-ring disposed between the above-mentioned wall and said valve disc and dampingly receiving the abutment of said valve disc when the valve disc is forced away from the valve seat by said urging means. 

1. In a vacuum cleaner involving a first substantially cylindrical casing (2) with a facing end, said first casing provided with an airpath (6) having an inlet port (7) in said facing end and an exhaust port, an electrically driven fan (11) disposed in said airpath for the forced passage of air through said airpath, a second substantially cylindrical casing (3) with a facing end, facing said first casing facing end, said second casing provided with an airpath (16) having an outlet port in said facing end and an intake port (12), a dust collector (17) disposed in the airpath of said second casing to cause air to pass through said dust collector, joining means (18, 29, 31, 33, 36) for detachable joining both said casings at their facing ends, so that a substantially cylindrical cleaner body is formed with the tandem arrangement of said casings, and a flexible hose (19) connecting said outlet port from said second casing (3) with the airpath in said first casing (2) by way of the inlet port in said first casing, the improvement in said vacuum cleaner comprising: a. a first grip handle (4b) integrally formed with said first casing on its upper side; b. a second grip handle (14a) integrally formed with said second casing on its upper side in line with said first grip handle; c. a chamber formed in the interior of said first grip handle and forming part of said airpath in said first casing and containing the flexible hose with the ends of said flexible hose connecting the said airpaths; d. said inlet port in said first casing comprising a bore (7) formed in the facing end of said first casing and communicating straight with said chamber; and, e. said outlet port in said second casing comprising an aperture formed in the facing end of said second casing and facing said bore such that the flexible hose communicates with the outlet port of the airpath of said second casing through said aperture; whereby the flexible hose is inserted into the first grip handle when the first and second casings are connected to each other in tandem arrangement.
 2. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said second casing is provided with a chamber formed in the interior of the second grip handle for containing a part of the flexible hose, said flexible hose being introduced into said chamber through an aperture and communicating with the outlet of the airpath of said second casing at the opposite end of said chambEr to said aperture.
 3. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said joining means comprises a clamping lever disposed at the side of one of said casings near the joining end, a protrusion disposed at the side of the other of said casings for engagement with said clamping lever, and convex and concave portions respectively formed in the facing ends of said casings near the opposite sides of said casings.
 4. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said flexible hose has one end connected to the suction port of said electrically driven fan, and said chamber constitutes an exhaust path of said first airpath formed at the outside of said flexible hose.
 5. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said dust collector is formed into a bag, and a bar member is disposed in said second casing at the rear side of said bag to prevent the rear free end of said bag from being deflected toward the downstream end of air passage.
 6. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which there is provided a shoulder belt, one end of which is fixed at the upper forward portion of said first casing and the other is fixed at the lower rear portion thereof, and a ring disposed at the upper rear portion of said first casing for causing the belt to pass therethrough.
 7. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which there is provided a shoulder belt, one end of which is fixed at one upper forward portion of said first casing and the other is fixed at the rear portion thereof, and a hook positioned and attached to one side of the first casing opposite to a defined position on the other side of the first casing, by means of which an insulated lead wire for supplying the electrically driven fan is taken out from and put in the first casing.
 8. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said second casing is provided with a joining tube (18) projecting rearwards from the joining end of said second casing at said aperture, the intake end of said flexible hose communicating with the airpath of said second casing through said joining tube, which is inserted into the bore when the first and second casings are connected to each other.
 9. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said grip handle of the first casing involves a raised part for bridging a grip part thereof and the forward end of said first casing body, and there is provided means for switching the drive of said fan positioned in said raised part.
 10. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 9, in which there is provided a member for actuating said switching means positioned on one side of said first casing and a delivery port positioned on the same side of said first casing for delivering an insulated lead wire for said electrically driven fan.
 11. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said electrically driven fan has an outer side towards said facing end and a rear side, said air being forced from said rear side past said outer side, said rear side having a suction port, and, said flexible hose has one end connected to said suction port and, an exhaust path is defined from the outer side of said fan in the first casing.
 12. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 11, in which there are provided cushion members disposed at said exhaust path of said first casing for supporting said electrically driven fan.
 13. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 11, in which there is provided a joining tube integrally formed with the shield of said electrically driven fan and connected to the end of said flexible hose.
 14. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 11, in which there is provided a hollow cylindrical muffler extending forwards from the delivery end of said fan and defining said exhaust path.
 15. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said second casing is provided with plugging means (38) for preventing or limiting the air passage through said flexible hose at its intake end to increase suction force in said flexible hose, thereby causing said flexible hose to be forcibly retracted into said chamber.
 16. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 15, in which said joining means comprises a clamping lever disposed at the side of one of said casings near the joining end, a protrusion disposed at the side of the other of said casings for engagement with said clamping lever, and convex and concave portions respectively formed in the mutually facing ends of said casings near the opposite sides of said casings.
 17. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 1, in which said second casing is provided with plugging means (38) comprising a valve disc (39) movably disposed in the airpath of the second casing at least partly to obstruct air passage through the flexible hose, a valve seat (18a) disposed at the outlet port of said second casing to receive said valve disc, and a member (41) disposed on the handle portion of said second casing for actuating said valve disc.
 18. A vacuum cleaner in claim 17, in which said valve disc (39) involves a member (41) attached thereto for actuating said valve disc in an axial direction of said valve seat, and urging means (49) for urging the valve disc away from the valve seat.
 19. A vacuum cleaner claimed in claim 18, in which said actuating member extends to the outside through a hole formed in the wall of the second casing, and said hole has its periphery surrounded by an O-ring disposed between the above-mentioned wall and said valve disc and dampingly receiving the abutment of said valve disc when the valve disc is forced away from the valve seat by said urging means. 